On Independence Day, Americans rightly honor our Founding Fathers for their courage and sacrifice. George Washington<\/a> is arguably the most important figure in U.S. history, and his wife, Martha Washington, was a constant support during his career. <\/p>\n Martha Washington didn\u2019t have an easy life. Her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, died after the couple had been married for just over seven years. They had four children together, all of whom died before Martha Washington did. Her first two children died before age 5. Her third child, John Parke Custis, died in his 20s; her fourth, Martha Parke Custis, died as a teen.\u00a0<\/p>\n Her marriage to George Washington in 1759 was joyful, since the \u201cattraction was mutual, powerful, and immediate,\u201d according to Mount Vernon\u2019s<\/a> historical records.\u00a0<\/p>\n But as was the case with her first marriage, life with the man who would become a new nation\u2019s first president likely wasn\u2019t what Martha expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n George Washington<\/a> left Mount Vernon in 1775 to lead the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Though he would not return home to Mount Vernon<\/a> for six years, Martha traveled to her husband\u2019s encampment each winter to stay with him while fighting was at a standstill.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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